‘Not Villa’: Fans react as Aston Villa reportedly target ‘incredibly skilful’ wonderkid

Tariq Lamptey is hardly the most high-profile player to slip through Chelsea’s fingers – that honour is shared between Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah and Romelu Lukaku – but Brighton and Hove Albion’s brilliant little right-back has done his level best at the Amex to remind his old employers what they’re missing. 

The Seagulls paid just £3 million to sign one of the fastest players in the Premier League 17 months ago. 

If they were to sell Lamptey this summer – and there’s no suggestion they would – the London-born 20-year-old would cost a darn sight more than £3 million, you can be sure of that.

Brighton asked for £22 million minimum when Bayern Munich came calling in September after all (Sport1). 

The loss of Lamptey, then, was still fresh in Chelsea minds when Goal reported another fresh-faced, west London right-back was on the radar of a top-flight rival. 

Aston Villa – Livramento on the radar

Aston Villa have made contact with 18-year-old Valentino Livramento, Chelsea’s newly crowned academy player of the year.  

Villa want a new right-sided defender following the departure of Ahmed Elmohamady.  

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But, given some sections of the Chelsea support would rather see Livramento promoted to Thomas Tuchel’s senior squad than see Serie A champion Achraf Hakimi arrive from Inter Milan, the reaction to his potential departure should come as no surprise.  

If the Stamford Bridge faithful had their way, Livramento would be going nowhere.

You can forget about a short-term loan deal too. 

Unfortunately for supporters it’s the Chelsea board that calls the shots and it has a worrisome track record when it comes to cashing in on the club’s most exciting young talent. 

Here’s what some Chelsea fans had to say on Twitter about the situation:

In other news, ‘Very good season’: Roy Keane praises 26-year-old seemingly wanted by Aston Villa